Heat exchange apparatus



Feb. 25, 1936.

c. H. LEACH' HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Original Filed April 13, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jzvenior 2M; 242mb FehZS, 1936. c. H. LEACH 2,032,021

HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS priginal Filed April 15, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mineJu' I Jzvenior Patented Feb. 25, 1936 HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Charles H. Leach, Roselle, N. J.

Application April 13, 1932, Serial No. 605,012 Renewed May 31, 1935 5 Claims.

The present invention relates to heat exchange apparatus, and more particularly to heat exchange apparatus employed for the condensation of oil vapors.

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple, practical and long-lived apparatus of this character, capable of successfully withstanding the corrosive effects of condensate and high pressures if necessary.

With this and other objects in view, the various features of the invention consist in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed, the advantages of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention, Fig. 1 represents a section in elevation, partially diagrammatic, of the improved condensing apparatus; Fig. 2 is a detail illustrating a section of the forging which forms the condensate chamber and tube head; Fig. 3 is a section of the removable liner which provides the cooling fluid passages; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the liner shown in Fig. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a shell l0, surmounted by a removable cover l2 joined to the shell in any suitable manner, as by flanges l4. The shell is supported upon a nozzle ring 5, provided with inlet and outlet nozzles l8 and 20 formed integral therewith. The nozzle ring in turn is supported upon a forged ring 22, which is provided with a transverse web 24 of substantial thickness, forming a lower tube support or tube head. Extending upwardly from this tube head and connected thereto are a series of tube bundles or banks indicated, respectively, at 26, 21, 28 and 29. Each of these tube bundles is connected at its upper end to a floating head 30, encompassing a cooling fluid passage in combination with a removable cover 32. The-lower ends of the tubes project through the web 24, and communicate interiorly with a series of cooling fluid passages, indicated generally at 34, and formed as hereinafter described.

The forged ring 22 is provided with an outer circumferential portion 36, extending upwardly from the web, and a portion 38 extending downwardly from the web. The upper circumferential portion of the ring provides, in conjunction with the surface of the web, a condensate chamber surrounding the lower tube ends, and divided into separate chambers by transverse partitions 40. Thering 22 is preferably forged from. a billet of steel into a generally disk form, and is then hogged out to form the web 24 of reduced thickness.

By forming the ring as a single, integral forging, the condensate chamber produced in the upperportion is entirely free from joints which must be packed against leakage, caused to hold pressure, and which are subject at the same time to the penetrative action of the corrosive condensate. Further than this, the web may be made of substantial thickness, and the. combined unit comprising the web and the outer circumferential portions is capable of resisting any distortion strains which may be imposed upon it due to the pressures employed. The condensate chamber is divided by partitions 40, which may be in the form of steel plates welded at opposite ends to the circumferential portion 36. The condensate chambers are separately drained through independent drainage openings 42.

The flow of cooling fluid through the separate tube banks is controlled by cooling fluid passages 34 formed at the under side of the tube head or partition 24. These passages are conveniently provided through a removable steel liner 50 in the form of a. circular band 52, provided with transverse partitions 54 welded thereto, as indicated in Figs. 2 to 4. This liner is then inserted at the under side of the tube sheet as indicated in the drawings, and provides not only the desired multiplicity of cooling fluid passages, but in addition for a variation of these passages by substituting one liner for another. The provision of this removable liner is an important adjunct of the present process, as it permits interchangeabill ity, and in addition provides the several passages without expensive coring or machining, as would otherwise be the case. The cooling fluid passages are closed by a flat cover member 56 in the form of a forging which is connected directly to the ring 22 by through bolts 58, threaded at their upper ends into the under portion of the web 24, and serving to clamp not only the cover but the fluid passage liner in assembled relation. The lower ends of the through bolts are threaded and provided with holding cap nuts 60, which serve as the medium for directly bolting the cover member 56 in place. By merely removing the cap nuts the cover member may be dis-assembled, as indicated. Cooling fluid nozzles 62 are mounted upon 7 the cover member and are removed therewith.

The vapor passages for providing a circuitous flow of vapor in the intertubular space are formed by partitions I0, welded into the nozzle ring l6, and partition members 12 inserted in the shell between the tube banks and connected thereto in any desired manner. As will be evident from Fig. 1, when the various parts are assembled, the partitions combine to form a single, continuous member, and provide separate vapor passages communicating directly, each with an independent condensate basin. The baflles or partitions 12 at their upper ends project upwardly between the floatingheads in a manner to permit disconnecting the shell Ill from the supporting nozzle ring, and removal of the shell and accompanying partitions from about the tubes without disconnecting the floating heads or partitions if so desired.

From the foregoing description it will be evident to those skilled in the art that the only joints in the vapor space are located well above the level of condensate, and free from any possibility of seepage of condensate thereinto. The entire surface of the condensate chambers themselves is that afforded by the integrally forged steel ring, the thickness of this ring being ample to resist distortion and corrosive action. Furthermore, the formation of the transverse web or tube sheet integrally with the circumferential portion of the ring provides great strength and rigidity, .and avoids any bending or distortion of the tube sheet under the strains imposed thereon. The tube sheet is further strengthened by the bolting thereto of a heavy, massive cover member 56, with the interposed liner forming the fluid passages.

What is claimed is:

1. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a ring having an integral, transverse and intermediate web forming a part thereof and providing :a collection basin thereabove, partitions located in the basin and welded to the ring, condenser tubes having their lower ends secured in the web, a separate partition assembly received within the ring and forming cooling fluid passages below the web,

and a detachable cover member secured to the web and ring for closing the passages.

2. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a ring having a tube-supporting partition and an outer circumferential flange extending above and below the partition, heat exchange tubing connected with the partition, a. vapor nozzle section connected to the ring, a shell enclosing the heat exchange tubing beyond the nozzle section, a flat cover member demountably attached to the ring to provide cooling fluid passages, and a removable and circular liner provided with transverse partitions supported within the ring so as to come into direct contact with cooling fluid contained in the passages enclosed by the cover member.

3. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a tubesupporting member, heat exchange tubing connected with the member, a shell enclosing the heat exchange tubing at one side of the member, a flat cover member detachably connected with the tube support at the opposite side and enclosing cooling fluid passages, and a removable lining for the cooling fluid passages coming into direct contact with the cooling fluid contained therein.

4. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a tube supporting member, heat exchange tubing supported by said membena shell enclosing the heat exchange tubing on one side of said supporting member, a cover member secured to the tube supporting member and cooperable with said tube supporting member to provide a chamber communicating with the interior of the heat exchange tubing and a removable lining member disposed inside said chamber and provided with a plurality of partition members cooperable to direct the flow of a fluid through said tubing.

5. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a ring having a transverse web to provide a tube support and condensate basin thereabove, condenser tubes secured in the support at their lower ends,

a shell surrounding the tubes thereabove to provide a vapor space, a grating or the like demountably inserted below the partition to provide a plurality of cooling fluid passages in communication with the interior of the tubes, and means for closing the passages formed by the grating.

CHARLES H. LEAQH. 

